Visitor attractions news Paul Noland resigns after five years at helm of IAAPA Paul Noland, president and CEO of global attractions association IAAPA, is stepping down from the role – a position he has held since January 2013. IAAPA will now start the process of finding a new chief executive, with current CFO Hal McEvoy taking the reins in the meantime. Noland, who has overseen the organisation through a period of growth and expansion – including the recent relocation of its headquarters to Orlando, Florida – has accepted a new position as CEO of technology solutions provider Accesso. The move comes as IAAPA starts its 100th anniversary year of celebration. “Paul has led IAAPA through some of the most successful years in the association’s 100-year history,” said IAAPA chair Andreas Andersen, who is also president and CEO of Liseberg in Sweden. “In addition, he has managed an extensive expansion of member services, the continued globalisation of the association, and the complicated relocation of IAAPA’s headquarters from the Washington, DC, area to Orlando. For this, we owe him a very warm thank you.”
■■Paul Noland has accepted a new executive position elsewhere in the attractions industry Attractions Management caught up with Noland during the IAAPA Expo in Orlando in November, where he was positive about the association’s move to Orlando. “A move is a big thing, but it’s gone really well,” he said. “The expo is a good example
Eden Project signs £150m Qingdao deal Sir Tim Smit’s Eden Project is making a giant leap in its journey to realising its first overseas attraction, following a recent trade meeting between the British and Chinese governments. During the three-day trade mission, David Hardland, Eden Project chief executive, signed an agreement with China Jinmao Holdings, for a future £150m development in Qingdao. ■■Details: http://lei.sr?a=d4R9P_T
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■■Details: http://lei.sr?a=r9d6t_T
Ski and storytelling create unique experience One of Finland’s most popular ski resorts is combining winter sport with storytelling experiences, creating a unique escape room-style game as it seeks to attract new audiences to the snowy destination. Working with Escape Room Helsinki, Pyhä Ski Resort has created an adventure based on the local legend of Huttu-Ukko – a mighty creature that guards the fell – with players having to explore the mountain’s slopes to solve the mystery. Called The Lost Spell, players must go on a journey to save the Pyhä fell from the evil plans of Pakkasnoita, the Frost Witch, by finding HuttuUkko’s lost spell. “We believe that by building stories around
Phyä ski resort
grimshaw architects
■■Grimshaw are working on the design
of the fact that although we have new faces around the office, they all came with huge passion for the industry and for IAAPA. IAAPA staff will be in temporary offices for a couple of years, but we hope to be in by 2019.”
■■ Players must go on a journey to save the fell skiing we can introduce new people to the sport,” said Reino Tikkanen, director of marketing and digital business development at Pyhä Ski Resort. “For us, skiing is not only a hobby. We believe it should be an adventure and last year we launched a mobile game that utilises
GPS-tracking to provide content and routes that are not visual on the slope map. Now we are bringing an escape adventure to a completely new environment.” Escape Pyhä will make its debut on 7 April, running through to 22 April. ■■Details: http://lei.sr?a=X6h7w_T
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